The Cumbria Police rural crime team has made 12 arrests and recovered numerous stolen items since it was launched in September, according to chief constable Rob Carden.
Carden took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share the progress update, and said that the team had recovered “numerous quad bikes, vans, trailers, tractor GPS units and a car”.
He said the team’s performance is growing reassurance in rural communities during “very uncertain times for contestants (thieves)”.
Cumbria Police’s rural crime team was launched during National Rural Crime Week which ran from September 18-24, 2023.
The team’s main priorities are:
- Burglary of rural business and farm premises;
- Theft of farm machinery, agricultural vehicles and plant equipment;
- Fuel theft;
- Environmental offences including waste and scrap metal offences;
- Wildlife offences;
- Equine and livestock offences.
“We know from victims about the devastating impact that rural crime can have on communities across the force area,” Carden said.
“As a predominantly rural force, we are determined create a hostile environment for criminals to safeguard local communities.”
Chief inspector and rural crime lead, Lee Skelton, said:
“The rural crime team will support the wider constabulary in targeting this area of crime and provide specialist rural crime advice to officers, create strong links within the community, and look at the issues they are facing and how we can deter criminals.
“This is not a victimless crime, the theft of machinery, fuel and other rural and wildlife offences have a negative impact on our communities financially and emotionally.
“We want to reassure our rural communities that we have listened to them and are taking action, however we need their support, we know rural crime is under reported and encourage our communities to be vigilant and reporting crimes and any suspicious activity.
“We need our communities reporting this information to us to build a picture of the issue and direct our resources to that area and make it a hostile environment for criminals.”
